The baby is now disabled after being shaken by a man who asked the paramedic: “Is it that serious?”

Philip Levins was supposed to look after the one-month-old while the baby’s mother was away at night, but he ended up shaking the poor tot and causing permanent brain injuries

A man who shook a one-month-old baby so violently that the poor child suffered brain damage for life has been sentenced to 33 months in prison.

Philip Levins, of St Mary’s Square in Lydney, was supposed to be looking after the baby but when his mother returned she found the child “white as a ghost” and “gasping”.

An ambulance was called and the baby was taken to the hospital with suspected brain injuries, he reported GloucestershireLive.

Gloucester Crown Court heard yesterday (23 May) that the child will be disabled for the rest of his life as a result of the injury. Judge Michael Cullum said after reading a prejudice report about Levins, 30, he concluded he still hadn’t fully accepted what he had done.

Prosecutor Catherine Flint told the court that on Tuesday, October 30, 2018, Levins was given responsibility for caring for the one-month-old baby at her home by the child’s mother. Ms Flint explained: “When the mother of the child returned home at 11.30pm, Levins told her there was something wrong with the baby and asked her if that was normal.

“She said the baby was as white as a ghost and limp in her arms. The child tried to cry but couldn’t because he was gasping for air.

“Emergency services were called and while waiting, the mother went next door to seek help from a neighbor. She received instructions from the call operator on what to do while the paramedics were on their way.

“Upon arrival, paramedics found the baby to be very calm, which was alarming under the circumstances. They also found unexplained marks on the baby’s body and immediately took the child to the hospital for specialist treatment for a suspected brain injury.

“Levins responded to the ambulance crew’s information by asking, ‘Is it that serious?’ He said he saw a movie with the baby sleeping on his chest. He then explained that the baby woke up screaming and when he changed the diaper there was blood there too.

“He also stated that he tripped over a shoe while carrying the baby from another room, but he said he protected the child as he stumbled.

“Levins also said that when he fed the baby and then changed her diaper, she let out a loud cry.

“Medics observed that Levins showed no emotion as he explained these details to them. He told them the baby never hit his head on anything.”

Levins was arrested the following day. He denied shaking the baby during the time he was caring for the child.

In a victim statement, the baby’s mother said: “I wish I had been there that night to protect my baby. This whole experience broke me. I was arrested, interrogated and made to attend every court hearing.

“I think about everything that happened to my baby that day all the time. I will remember this incident for the rest of my life. The baby will never be a normal child.

“I blame myself every day for what happened. I wish I had stayed home that night.”

The court was told the child, now four years old, is happy but has developmental delays and seizures as a result of this brain injury. The child also has problems with language and meaning processing and does not yet communicate verbally.

Levins pleaded guilty to one charge of intentionally assaulting/abusing the child while in charge of a baby on October 30, 2018, likely causing him unnecessary suffering or harm to his health.

Judge Cullum told Levins: “On October 30, 2018, you assaulted an infant while the baby was left in your care. The mother must not feel any guilt or responsibility for what you have done.

“Sometime during the evening you shook the baby vigorously. Only you know the circumstances.

“You have been on a journey described as a journey. You were unable or chose not to handle your offense. This is unfortunate as it deprives you of an additional remorse mitigation.

“I believe that in the years to come you will address your actions that you are ashamed of and disgusted with what you have done. But until you articulate that, those who deal with you are bound to have their concerns.

“However, you made no attempt to hide the child’s injuries. It was suspected early on that the child was suffering from a brain injury.

“Medical experts have determined that the child’s injuries are consistent with the baby being shaken. You never explained what happened that evening during your interview with the police or the paramedics or the child’s mother.

“What no one can do is predict what the future holds for the child as an adult. She is already suffering from developmental delays and seizures.

“The child has lifelong injuries and a lifelong disability as a result of your brief moment violently shaking the child. You have to live with that for the rest of your life.

“The child will be permanently disabled for the rest of his life.”

The judge sentenced Levins to two years and nine months.